TERMS & CONDITIONS

This document governs the way that an applicant (“You”) will interact with Think+DO Tank Foundation; its partner, Scribble; and collaborators and industry panellists (together, "Us”). 

Please read the following terms and conditions carefully before submitting your work to the 2022 MIRROR Literary Mentorship Program for writers, illustrators and literary translators.

Closing date

Your Application must be received by 11:59pm AEDT on the advertised closing date. Late entries will not be accepted.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for the MIRROR Literary Mentoring Program if you meet the following criteria. We strongly encourage you to apply if you:

  • identify as a literary artist from a historically marginalised community which may include, without limitation:

    • First Nations communities

    • culturally and linguistically diverse communities that are under-represented in Australian literature for children; and

  • you make literature for children (0 - 14) whether as a writer, illustrator or literary translator

    and

  • your work includes languages other than English, or in addition to English; or 

  • your illustrations or mode of storytelling are informed by one or more non-English speaking culture(s).

Exclusions

Think+DO Tank Foundation (TDTF) or Scribble staff, interns and board members are not eligible to apply.


Age

Applicants must be aged 18 or over when applying.

Fees

There is no fee to apply.

Residency

Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanently reside in Australia.

Application process

Applications must be submitted via the online entry form.

Link: https://www.mirror.org.au/

Selection Process

Expressions of interest will be assessed by a diverse and experienced Industry Panel.

To find out more about the Industry Panel, check out: https://www.mirror.org.au/panelists.   

A shortlist of applicants may be invited for an interview with the Panel.

Number of Mentorships + Payment

We will award up to three mentorships.

Each successful applicant will receive a stipend of A$4,000.

This will be paid as an honorarium, exclusive of GST, in two instalments. Artists are responsible for their own tax affairs, including remitting any tax payable on this payment. Artists will be required to provide an ABN as a condition of payment, or a Declaration by Supplier if the Artist does not hold an ABN.

Support Material

For Authors

Author entries will be accepted in any form including, but not limited to children’s picture books, early reader, junior fiction, middle fiction and graphic novels. The author’s work should be aimed at children (0 - 14 years). 

Entries will be assessed according to literary and artistic merit and developmental potential, originality of the idea and its execution. 

You will be required to submit original written work that does not infringe the copyright of any other person. You should submit your writing as an attachment. Accepted formats are word, pdf, excel, jpg, png and mp4. You will also be able to submit additional work via URL. Please ensure your document fulfils standard publication formatting, including Times New Roman typeset, 12 point font and is double-spaced with page numbers. Please ensure that your name and the working title of the work are included on every page. Please submit no more than 20 pages with a minimum text of 400 words. Alternatively, you may submit a detailed storyboard for your work, or a synopsis of at least 300 words.

If submitting in a language other than English, please submit a complete English translation (this can be in addition to the 20 page limit). If an English translation is not available we will ask for your permission to share your work with a reader of your specified language/s so that we can make an assessment. 

For illustrators

Illustrator entries will be accepted for illustrations designed for children’s picture books, early reader, junior fiction, middle fiction and graphic novels.

Entries will be assessed according to literary and artistic merit and developmental potential, originality of the idea and its execution. 

You will be required to submit original illustrated work that does not infringe the copyright of any other person. You should submit examples of your illustrations as an attachment.

Accepted formats are word, pdf, jpg, png and mp4. You will also be able to submit additional work via URL. If submitting as a document, please ensure that your name and the working title of the work is included on every page.

A maximum limit of 10 illustrations applies and illustrations beyond that limit will not be considered.

For those applicants applying as author/illustrators, a combination of sample work is permitted as long as it does not exceed the maximum limits for each format. 

For Translators

Translation entries will be accepted for literary translations in any language or dialect including First Nations languages. 

Entries will be assessed according to literary merit, accuracy and/or originality of translation, developmental potential and its overall execution. 

You will be required to submit an original written translation including original writing that is being translated that does not infringe the copyright of any other person. You should submit your translation as an attachment. Accepted formats are word, pdf, excel, mp4. You will also be able to submit additional work via URL. Please ensure your document fulfils standard publication formatting, including Times New Roman typeset, 12 point font and is double-spaced with page numbers. Please ensure that your name and the working title of the work are included on every page. Please submit no more than 20 pages. 

If submitting in a language other than English, please submit a complete English translation (this can be in addition to the 20 page limit) and/or the original text. If an English translation or original is not available we will ask for your permission to share your work with a reader of your specified language/s so that we can make an assessment. 

Application process

The Industry Panel will determine the successful entrants who will be offered a mentorship. The Industry Panel decision is final and there will be no feedback provided or correspondence entered into.

Successful applicants will be contacted by Think+DO Tank Foundation’s team to discuss the engagement. All successful applicants will be contracted by Think+DO Tank Foundation for the period of the program.

Mentorships must be completed by 30 June 2023.

Media and public comment

By completing and submitting an EOI, You give permission for Us to use your biography and profile photo/s for marketing and media purposes.

By completing and submitting an EOI, You agree to do your best to be available for any media engagements we may request you attend.

Intellectual property

By completing and submitting an EOI, you represent and warrant to Us that:

  • any work submitted is Your original work;

  • the work does not infringe any intellectual property rights, including copyright of any third party or any other rights of any person;

  • the work contains no defamatory matter, or any matter that breaches any individual’s rights to privacy;

  • the work is not discriminatory of any person or group and does not incite hate; and

  • the work is appropriate for children.

In sharing your work with us, you give license to TDTF and its partners for the purposes of adjudicating the mentorship but no Intellectual Property Rights are vested in TDTF in relation to submitted images. 

We promise to You that:

  • Your work will not be used in any way or for any other purpose than to deliberate and award the Mirror Literary mentorships;

  • Your work will only be shared between Industry Panelists and staff supporting their work.

Feedback

The Industry Panel’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Acknowledgement of Partners and Funders

You must acknowledge Think+DO Tank Foundation, Lost In Books, Scribble and Australia Council for the Arts in connection with your participation in the MIRROR Literary Mentorship Program, and in any subsequent works that this Program enables, progresses, or produces.

Mentoring Relationship

The MIRROR Mentorship Program offers a minimum of 40 hours mentorship to successful applicants. It is the responsibility of the applicant to attend all mentoring hours as organised between the partner and the successful applicant. Failure to engage may result in the withdrawal of services, support and funds pertaining to the MIRROR Mentorship Program.  

Outcomes

You are not obliged to produce new publication-ready works as an outcome of this Program. However, should you produce new work(s) as a result of your participation (that have not been published in whole or part before), You will be asked by Us to grant a first right of refusal to Scribble and Forked Tongues Publishing, an imprint of LOST IN BOOKS, to consider the work(s) for publication.